Isaac Pethan might have come under the radar last season for Manitowoc Lincoln’s baseball team.

That won’t be happening again.

Last year Pethan, the Ships' leadoff hitter, was unanimous first-team all-Fox River Classic Conference, first-team all-North East District by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association in the outfield.

He also was an honorable-mention all-state pick by the WBCA.

“I was really happy,” Pethan said. “I put in a lot of work hitting in the offseason and in camp that we’ve done since I was in fourth grade and it was nice seeing it pay off.”

Pethan knows he’ll see a little added attention from the opposing but isn’t worried about the pressure.

“A little bit. I’d say there’s a little pressure heading into this year,” Pethan said. “I would love to repeat what I did last year but I know I have to just step into the batter’s box with the same mentality, play my game and whatever happens happens.

What Pethan did last season was lead the FRCC with a .422 batting average while having a .505 on base percentage.

He was also a terror on the bases when he reached, scoring 26 times and swiping 11 bases.

That ability to get on base is what makes Pethan such an offensive threat according to Lincoln coach Bruce Steinbecker.

“He had so much success last year because he hit strikes, he didn’t chase balls out of the zone,” Steinbecker said. “Because of his speed it’s dangerous walking him because if he gets to first he’s probably going to steal second and probably third. As long as he continues to be disciplined at the plate he’s going to have success.”

While opposing pitchers might want to avoid Pethan, they don’t have that luxury he says.

“There’s so many big batter’s behind me they really can’t duck me,” Pethan says. “We have two or three who bat behind me who are just as a good as me. It’s really nice because if they don’t throw to me they have to get David (LaTour), Austin (Schleis) or Braxton (Keil) or Hunter (Saubert). Each bat is as deadly as the next one.”

Steinbecker knows Pethan will see more attention this season but that he’ll adapt.

“He’s got target on his back,” Steinbecker said. “They’re going to try and pitch around him and he’s going to see more off speed pitches than he say in the past.”

Despite teams trying to stop him, there’s one thing they can’t prevent and that’s the leadership role Pethan provides.

“I’m taking the role pretty seriously,” Pethan said. “I want every kid to strive to be their best and if they strive for their best and do everything they can on the offseason to make themselves better that’s just what you need from them.”

Steinbecker says Pethan is a leader on multiple fronts.

“Isaac’s one of those guys that leads in a lot of different ways,” Steinbecker said. “He leads with his style of play, he’s super aggressive. He’s by far the dirtiest player at the end of the game, sometimes there’s blood on his jersey and a lot of times there is.”

There’s one way though Pethan is irreplaceable according to Steinbecker.

“Probably the best way he leads is the way he works in practice,” Steinbecker said. “It gets boring hitting a ball off a tee after a while but he never stops. His leadership is an amazing thing and the team goes as he goes.”

No matter what Pethan has to face this season, he has a way to handle it.

“I’m going to take two deep breaths, take a cut and see what happens,” Pethan said.